Christian Science has been my only physician, healer, surgeon, and protector for many years. I include surgeon because through prayer alone I was once healed of a growth on my hip. I was not afraid of the diseased condition, because I knew God had not made it; therefore the growth had no spiritual reality to it or divine law behind it. In my prayers to better understand my true spiritual identity as God's child, I declared that a material growth could not be rooted or grounded in divine Life, and so could not grow. Two days later there was no vestige of the problem—not even a scar.

For many wonderful years I was blessed with joy-filled companionship with my wife. When she passed on a few years ago, I was healed of loss and grief through the understanding Christian Science gave me that Life is eternal. I still feel her love and support, and know she feels mine.

However, some months after my wife's passing I fell ill and found myself in a Christian Science care facility, not quite sure how I had gotten there. (A friend had found me at home in a semiconscious state, and had driven me to the facility, where I could have proper nursing care.) My daughter had been notified; she and a family friend had flown in to be with me. Their strong understanding of Christian metaphysics helped me to pray, and I gained the spiritual alertness and strength needed to fly back with them to my daughter's home. I quickly progressed from a wheelchair to a walker, then to a cane. Through the prayerful help of a Christian Science practitioner, I was restored to complete health and vigor within a few weeks, and even able to play golf! A relative later remarked to me that she had witnessed a miracle. Although living alone has brought challenges, I have felt God's comforting care. Each one of us has a spiritual purpose to fulfill, and I have found great joy in increased church work.

Some months ago a rash appeared on my body. I prayed to be conscious of the spiritual facts I had learned about myself, and of the harmony that such an understanding must bring to my life. Many times when discouragement set in, I turned to Christian Science practitioners to help me pray more effectively. When my thought was more enlightened, I then prayed for myself once again.

One day it became clear to me that all that was needed for this healing was a clearer spiritual understanding, and that no one could attain this for me. So for the time being I turned off the television, stopped going to the movies, and studied Christian Science exclusively. This study brought a complete healing of the rash, and I now see more harmony everywhere in my life. Daily I declare that God is my Mind, and that divine Spirit is my substance.

In the spring of 1992 I joined a group of friends for a tour of South Africa. One of the activities planned was to visit a gold mine to observe its operations. I'd looked forward to going down into the mine, but was surprised when I became claustrophobic, as I'd served four years in submarines and was used to this type of environment. Also, the dust in the air was bothering my breathing. Then I saw that another member of the group was in great distress also. Going to help this friend, I forgot about my own discomfort. I remembered a statement written by Mary Baker Eddy: "Christian Science is at length learned to be no miserable piece of ideal legerdemain, by which we poor mortals expect to live and die, but a deep-drawn breath fresh from God, by whom and in whom man lives, moves, and has deathless being" (The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, p. 195). I was immediately free of feeling claustrophobic and was again able to breathe normally. By the time we returned to the surface, the other tour member was making rapid physical improvement, and soon was completely healed. Her situation had seemed so alarming that the mining tour guide had called for an ambulance, which was never needed.

During a safari trip in a Land Rover, we were confronted by a bull elephant whose domain we had mistakenly invaded. Even though I was sitting right in the front seat of the vehicle, I had the greatest sense of peace and calm. I prayed to know God governed and controlled all of His creation, so there was no cause for fear. As the animal turned to attack us, our driver (an experienced elephant hunter) turned the vehicle right toward him, gunning the motor. The bull elephant then backed off and trotted away. The driver told our group, "Never turn your back on an elephant—face him, and he'll turn away!" This made me realize that in the same way, whenever we feel threatened by fear, we can overcome it only by going forward and facing up to the situation prayerfully, never by backing away from it.

Also on this trip, I was healed in one day of the symptoms of a heavy cold, by knowing that my health was not at the mercy of so-called laws of matter but, rather, health is maintained by God's law of harmony.

I'm glad that Life is eternal, because it will take me forever to express all the gratitude I have for Mrs. Eddy's discovery of Christian Science.

Russell L. Luerssen
Ballwin, Missouri

The Mother Church is The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts.

Its branches are called Churches of Christ, Scientist, and Christian Science Societies.